It’s nearly the weekend, and it's time to start considering your next dinner out.
If you're looking to treat yourself (and try something new), we found 10 top-rated Oakland restaurants that still have a number of two- or four-person tables available at prime times this weekend (7-9pm on Friday and Saturday).
To help you snare a seat at the eatery that matches your dining style, we sorted them into two different price ranges, with an option for every budget.
Bon appetit, in advance.
$$ ($11-30 per person)
À Côté (5478 College Ave.)
Lovers of Mediterranean food will delight in this Rockridge restaurant, which offers seasonal small plates and an outdoor patio.
The restaurant has tables available for two at 7pm and after 7:45pm on Friday, and after 8pm on Saturday. Parties of four still have their pick of prime times on both days.
Enoteca Molinari (5474 College Ave.)
Butternut squash with Roman mint, peperoncino, garlic and burrata. | Photo: Enoteca Molinari/Facebook
One of Oakland's best date spots, this intimate Italian spot is more than just a wine bar. Its tagliatelle al ragu, salumi plates and gnocchi are favorites with foodies.
There are still tables for two available on Friday and Saturday at 7:15pm, 7:30pm and after 8:30pm. Groups of four have 8:15pm on Saturday as an option.
The Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant (201 Washington St.)
Formerly a brothel, The Fat Lady is a cozy classic Victorian and a dimly lit eatery rolled into one. It specializes in traditional American grub, and there's plenty of solid menu options to choose from, including the chicken Marsala, calamari steak and rack of lamb.
Grilled swordfish. | Photo: The Fat Lady Bar & Restaurant/Facebook
Regardless of how many people will join you this weekend, you'll have your pick of times to choose from between 7-9pm on Friday and Saturday.
Yoshi's (510 Embarcadero West)
At the intersection of traditional Japanese fare and live jazz, you'll find Yoshi's. With sushi, nigiri, sashimi and a number of surf-and-turf entrees to choose from, Yoshi's menu doesn't disappoint.
The Jack London Square restaurant still has a handful of two-seat tables open on Friday and Saturday between 8-9pm. Foursomes can still make reservations for Friday anytime after 7:45pm.
Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery (5421 College Ave.)
If you're craving Thai, there are still plenty of prime-time tables available for parties of two or four at Rockridge's Soi 4, on both Friday and Saturday nights.
The restaurant is best known for its turnip cakes and other "hard to find" traditional Thai street food.
A16 Rockridge has tables for two and four available at 7pm, 7:15pm and 9pm on Friday and Saturday night.
A spinoff of San Francisco's A16, it offers traditional Neapolitan-style pizzas, which are bookended nicely by a starter salad (like the kohlrabi salad with arugula) and dessert (we recommend the cannoli). It's also known for its stellar selection of Italian wines.
Duende(468 19th St.)
Located in the heart of Uptown, Duende has established itself as a staple of Oakland's food scene. The neighborhood eatery, which puts its own spin on modern Spanish flavors, is a popular destination for tapas lovers and paella enthusiasts alike.
On Friday, there are still a few tables available for parties of two between 8-9pm, and duos can have their pick of prime-time reservations on Saturday. Parties of four won't be able to snag a seat until after 8:15pm on both nights.
This hip Californian bistro has plenty of space for parties of two or four on Friday and Saturday night, with prime-time tables available beginning at 7:45pm. Popular dishes include the halibut ceviche and fire-roasted ribeye.
Flora (1900 Telegraph Ave.)
This Art Deco-inspired eatery in Uptown specializes in American food, serving up classic cuisine like flatiron steak, pork chops and fried chicken. It also boasts a killer cocktail menu.
A number of prime tables are available this weekend, including slots for two anytime between 8-9pm on Friday and starting at 7:15pm on Saturday. Spaces for groups of four are slightly more limited, but there are still tables available on both days beginning at 8:15pm.
Millennium (5912 College Ave.)
Vegan foodies will find their happy place at this award-winning restaurant, where the plum-glazed tempeh, sweet corn uttapam and the potato croquettas are enticing enough to win over carnivores as well.
Millennium has a number of tables available for parties of two between 7:30 and 9pm on both Friday and Saturday. Although there aren’t any prime-time tables available for parties of four on Saturday, quartets can still make a reservation for anytime after 7:30pm on Friday.
